My first time in New York, I swear I spent about 4 days trying to figure out which train went where because those crossing lines on the map were probably meant to cross your eyes and scramble your brains. Walking would normally be a no brainer, but with a tight schedule you’ll want to save time by using New York transportation.

Despite being a no0b the last trip, I was traveling New York City like a pro this time around and decided to put together a New York City Travel Guide for first timers. Transportation in New York or in any country for that matter is highly essential. Getting about is when the excitement starts because you never know what you’ll discover at the next street corner!

1) Cabs to and from the airport are a flat rate of $45
I had thought this was one of the most expensive taxi rides in my entire life, but that was before I went to Sao Paulo where I got slapped with a SGD$90 fare for my trip from the airport to the main city area. By comparison, USD$45 is actually quite a reasonable price for traveling from the JFK airport to midtown Manhattan given it’s an 18 mile journey. The minimum taxi fare upon boarding is USD$2.50 so USD$45 is quite a steal for your first taxi ride in New York City.

You cant pre-arrange a pickup by a New York taxi, but taxis are a dime a dozen at the airport. There’s a tipping culture in the States and you’ll have to tip your taxi driver at the end of your trip. Therefore, be prepared to pay about USD$50 for your first taxi ride. If you dont have enough cash on hand, there’s always the option of paying by credit card in most NYC taxis.

2) Take the AirTrain from the John F Kennedy airport to Manhattan
If you’re on a budget and refuse to let your first “purchase” in the Big Apple be a USD$50 taxi ride, the other option of traveling from the airport to midtown Manhattan is via the AirTrain.

I’ve gotta give myself a pat on the back this trip because I actually dragged my 2 check-in luggage around instead of opting for the easier alternative of a taxi! From the AirTrain off JFK, I had to stop at the Jamaica Station to change to the regular Metro trains before reaching my destination in midtown Manhattan on 50th street! Phew! I conquered staircases and slopes, crossed uneven flooring in the Subway stations and navigated bumpy street pavements before I got to my 5 storey walk-up apartment in Hell’s Kitchen. NO LIFTS OMG. Achievement unlocked!

3) 24/17 is the magic number on the trains. Yes, 17.
Apparently everything in New York City does not sleep. Not only do the restaurants in the Big Apple open till late (think 10pm dinners), even their train system is a night owl. I love that the New York trains run 24 hours because that means you can get anywhere, anytime to make the best of your adventure in the City. There’s always something to see and discover in New York.

But if you’re like me the first time I was there and had trouble figuring out the train system, keep in mind the number 17. Some of the train platforms in the Subway are on different streets. If you make the mistake of going onto the Uptown platform instead of the Downtown platform, you’ll have to exit to street level to get to the other platform. Not all platforms are all linked from the inside! So here’s the catch, you’ll only be able to enter the gates of the right platform 17 minutes later from the moment you first swipe your card. EVEN if you made an honest mistake.

4) Get the unlimited travel cards
When you’ve got so much ground to cover, the 7-Day Unlimited Pass will save you some time and money. Although the unlimited MetroCard will set you back USD$29, you dont have to pay USD$2.25 per ride, and it gives you some leeway for making some mistakes on the New York Subway (although you should definitely keep in mind the 17 minute rule when jumping trains).

For the week you have the train card, you get unlimited Subway and local bus rides until midnight, 7 days from day of first purchase. If you’re in the City for an extended period of time, there’s also a 30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard priced at USD$104.

5) There’s limited mobile connectivity on the trains
On my first trip to NYC, I instantly figured out why the whole iPod culture is incredibly HUGE in the States – they dont get reception underground. Keep in mind the New York Subway was constructed almost 100 years ago, it’s probably quite a feat that the trains are still in good working condition and you dont experience breakdowns.

As much the disconnectedness was unsettling at times, (maybe it’s because I’ve got some sort of soft addiction to the Internet), it was refreshing to have time to people watch and get a sense of your brand new surroundings. It’s definitely more fun to people watch when no one’s got their heads bent low intently peering at their phones.

On top of that, being unable to text or call anyone from underground will teach you a lesson on being punctual. Because you wont be able to tell your friend you’ll be late, you’ll have to make sure you keep your appointments or they’ll wonder what happened to you!

Between the two trips, the only New York transportation that I havent really gotten acquainted with would be the local buses or interstate trains. I’ve walked, taxied, trained and even biked across Manhattan, I think I’m ready to take on New York transportation the next time again with more New York attitude!

With budget flights available at the click of a mouse button to this new generation of world travelers, a country a month over the weekend is not that difficult to achieve. Flash packing requires no check-in luggage. Just lug a couple of important things in your hand carry and say hello to a new culture a month. Because you’re just going for a short weekend away, you dont need that many things. So here are my travel tips for packing light:

• Go back to basics
In life, you’ll never go wrong with your basics – whether fashion, grammar, beauty or health etc, travel is exactly the same. Pack your basic tank tops in various colours with different embellishments, 2 pairs of your trusty jeans, flirty skirts and maybe 2 cute dresses for nights out on the town. Mixing and matching your tops and bottoms gives you several outfits options.

Accessories, such as scarves, I find always make a whole lot of difference. You’ll even be able to use them as hair accessories! When it comes to jewellery, pack statement pieces that you’ll be able to use with most of your outfits.

Shoes dont make for light travel packing. Honestly, you dont need that many pairs of shoes, just unless one for the road and a really dressy pair. Or maybe just one more cute one.. Just for an alternative. But remember, we’re trying to think about how to travel light. 2 pairs of shoes should do the trick for a 4 day trip, unless of course you’re packing for a photoshoot. Even then, on my recent trip to Jakarta, I packed a whole bunch of dresses and still managed to fly sans check-in with 4 pairs of shoes: 2 heels, a pair sneakers and sandals.

• Use what’s provided for you
Whether you’re staying in a hostel, hotel or couch surfing in somebody’s apartment, always check what’s being provided for you. If you’re staying just for the weekend, it’s okay to rough it out and go without your regular conditioner. Use whatever is available so you dont have to carry an extra bottle. Skincare, however, is something I never compromise on. I always bring my own basic skin care regime overseas.

• Vaseline is your best friend
This little jar of petroleum jelly was once your best friend when you were a baby and now in your jetsetter days, it returns to be your best companion on board and abroad. There are an infinite things you can do with Vaseline but I particularly love it for tackling the moisture and hair frizziness problems you get when travelling!

• Wear as much as you can
No no, dont get me wrong, I dont mean cover up. When you have a 10kg hand-carry travel luggage limit, instead of packing all the bulky items in your luggage and weighing the scale down, flaunt that jacket and be the clothes rack for just a bit. Those pretty heels weigh more than your slippers, totter about in them until you get on the plane and then you can change out of them. Layer up if you have to because they dont weigh you!

• Sharing is caring
It’s fun to travel alone, but sometimes twice is as nice. When you have a travel buddy, it can be double the fun. At the same time, it also means a load halved. You can either arrange to share toiletries or your gadgets or even just dump your stuff in your buddy’s luggage which has more space! Hahaha. We share stuff with the people we love!

Ive been to New York once in 2010. Never would I have thought it’d be less than 2 years into the future before I made my second trip. I visited once and immediately fell in love. Now I know what they mean by love at first sight. You can be sure there must be something about New York that makes it one of the most fabulous cities.

The one thing I really enjoyed most about New York the last time I was there was shopping at Victoria’s Secret surprisingly not the shopping. It was the mere pleasure of walking down the street and not being able to predict what unexpected treasure or experience I’d stumble into or who I’d meet. With such a diverse mix of people with their own stories to tell, it was exciting to walk down the bustling sidewalks and perhaps dig deep into the psyche of the person next to you when the opportunity arose. That’s not to say I didn’t have my own exciting tale to share. But in the Big Apple, I could dream as big as I want and the atmosphere always buzzed with the possibility of achieving those dreams.

In my recent trips, Manila restored my faith in humanity because I saw how there were still people who valued sharing; Jakarta taught me to listen to my heart once more and trust it to guide me to do what feels right for me. Now in New York, meeting up with one of my favourite girls from the Miss Earth 2009 pageant all the way across from the other side of the Earth, I’m on the quest to believe that anything can happen. And of course, of all places, in The Big Apple no less. It was with a simple text to her that made this 2 and a half year overdue meeting possible. For sure, anything is possible if you set your mind to it.

Bring it New York because I’ve already lined up a lot more meetings with amazing people here in this buzzing city. My adventure in the City that Never Sleeps has only begun.

They say the third time’s a charm. Three times I’ve flown to Manila, three times I’ve been on the airplane alone, not exactly sure what’s waiting for me on the other side. But the anticipation that builds up inside as the plane descends and suddenly bumps you out of your seat upon touchdown is exactly the kind of kick I get out of flying alone; being on foreign land alone just opens up a completely new chapter in Adventure because you can’t exactly predict what new land is going to throw at you.

Three times I’ve flown solo to Manila and now decades later – I’m sitting a gate away from my Manila one 2 weeks ago – waiting for my virgin solo flight to Jakarta. The last time I was in Jakarta was when I was half my parents height and traveled for a much cheaper rate. Now, armed with my faithful gadgets, a vocabulary of Indonesian words that could probably get me safe to my destinations, and most importantly, a pocket full of hope, I’m venturing into unfamiliar territory yet again.

Opening yourself up to the unknown and learning to possibly trust the most unlikeliest of people is bound to teach you some sort of courage in life. Unfailingly, these solo journeys of mine have always been eye-opening. Not limited to the uncharted territories and its hidden gems, I’ve time and time again, uncovered a lot about the human race on my independent exploits.

Sometimes your faith gets restored, other times your already broken spirit gets another kick where it hurts the most. Nevertheless, both experiences make great stories.

As the plane descends and the pilot announces our arrival, my hands start to get clammy and my tummy is as though it’s practising for the gymnastics in the Olympics – this reaction whether from the fear of the unknown or as a result of the adrenalin rush I always get when I approach a new country, I’m sure this escapade will teach me yet another important lesson.

Instead of staying at the very popular Patong beach, Karon was our choice of accommdation. A little quieter but no less pretty. Even the view from our resort balcony was picturesque. With the beaches looking the way they were, it was an easy decision to make regarding spending most of our time at the beach. Bronzed skin, here we come!

The thing I didnt expect about Phuket beaches was the strong waves that came in. Boy, were we caught off guard when we went a-splashing in the waters at Karon beach. The waves looked like you could surf on them. Well, baby surf that is. But were they BIG or were they BIG. The fun part was trying to jump onto the peak of the wave as it comes crashing into you! Hahaha! The resulting failure is having the waves crash over you and wash you up on the sand like a beached whale. Perfect example of (not-so-sexy) beach hair. Haha!

So since we stayed away from where the realll action in Phuket was, a trip to Patong itself was obviously due. If I’ve got any advice for anyone traveling to Phuket/Patong, either 1) stay in Patong and save yourself the trouble of haggling over the price of a Tuk-Tuk or 2) rent a motorbike for about 300 THB a day and ride your way there. Tuk-Tuks cost 300 THB (~12.50 SGD) one way and honestly, I’d pick the second option because in Phuket you can ride a motorbike without a license this whole haggling/bargaining thing really isnt my cup of tea.

Anyhoo, Patong is a must-see if you havent already been there. The Patong market by day was like your regular street market. Stalls were lined up selling cheap (and sometimes dubious looking) food and random jewelry. Motorbikes and cars whizzed by inches away from your leg hair as you browsed the stalls giving you opportunities time and time again to watch your life flash before your eyes.

The clubs and their signs were the ones that amused me the most, especially the Husband Day Care Centre. Patong is synonymous with sex and judging from the position of the banner, husbands placed in the day care centre are gonna gogo for the A-go-go. It’s more likely that husbands will be hankering to be put in the day care centre than be willingly dropped off.

But that’s not even the fun part. The fun begins when night falls and the clubs come alive. Bar top dancing, booty shaking, but the sexciting ping-pong shows happen behind closed doors.

We didnt stay for the shows obviously, but instead took a trip to the beach. In comparison to Karon beach, Patong beach was a lot more crowded and infinitely busier.

We didnt do any of the aerial sports, but opted for water sports, like snorkeling, at the three Khai islands, Khai Nok, Khai Nai and Koh Khai Nui, off Phuket. That was where we got upclose with some of the local residents.

Each of the three Khai islands are a beautiful sight. Whether it was because of the colourful (rentable) umbrellas or the setting sun, awesome shots are a must.

With such a beautiful scenery, of course you’ll have to do the customary swimsuit shot.

Half of the days were spent on the beach while the other half was spent at the numerous markets and malls. Yes, there are several (okay maybe just two) malls in Phuket: Jung Ceylon and Central Festival.

I tried makeup shopping at these places but they didnt have anything interesting or the brands that I wanted. Bangkok has NARS, but sadly not Phuket. So thankfully, I brought my own makeup for the trip! Yay!

In the eye department, I trusted MAC for their mascara, concealer and eyeliner. MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer, MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Engraved, MAC Fluid Line and MAC Zoom Lash to keep my peepers pretty for shopping trips.

Unlike my Hong Kong travel makeup kit, because Phuket’s sun is like no other, you’ll need sunblock for your face on top of slathering sun protection on your skin every 2 hours. So, BioTherm’s BB White D-Tox BB cream was my weapon of choice, giving light coverage and sun protection for a really natural face of the day.

And why do I say Jung Ceylon in Patong is a better mall than Central Festival? For one, it has more things you can shop for. Secondly, it’s not as far and probably wont get conned into paying 500 THB traveling to Jung Ceylon. Last and definitely most importantly, you get awesomely cute shoes at Jung Ceylon! I have no idea what to wear them with, but arent they the cutest? Haha!

Sao Paulo, Portuguese for Saint Paul, is a city that will charm you the moment you set foot into it. From the vast showrooms and warehouses that peppered the dark streets the night we first traveled to the Hilton from the airport, to the stately Brasil flag that flew on its mast, the graffiti laden walls and impressive buildings, there’s a sort of sleepy yet romantic charm about the Sao Paulo city that captures your attention regardless of where you divert it.

The highways make like distinguished men and politely pass each other with a slight nod of the head. Morning traffic at 830am doesn’t seem to be as hectic or traumatic as a peak period should be. In fact, traffic has been smooth to all our destinations perhaps because Sao Paulo is so big. Despite our daily travels and escapades, we’ve really barely scratched the surface of this enchanting city. I’m definite Sao Paulo will continue to charm and amaze us in the coming weeks as things continue to pick up.

Despite this calm, made even more conspicuous in the veil of the rain and an overcast sky today, the energy of the Brasilian people is a stark contrast to the city. Like a strong heartbeat, the Brasilian people are steady and vibrant. Both Samba and football are perfect examples of this brilliant energy. One cannot help but want to dance when in the presence of either. We witnessed the energy embodied in the cheering in the Museu Do Futebol (Football Museum) and Samba lessons at Sociedade Rosas De Ouro. These two experiences were nothing short of fun, excitement and non-stop movement. The colours, buzz of the music and people are infectious and though it’s only been a week, we’ve only about 2 over weeks to the finals on September 12th. Time sure flies.

Hong Kong being home of SaSa, one of my favourite make up stores in Singapore, obviously has no lack of SaSa stores lining its streets. Even overseas, SaSa still remains one of the best places to get make up and beauty products. I couldnt walk into a SaSa store in Hong Kong without wanting to buy at least one thing. The last time I went there I went silly buying darling nail art stickers. This time, I might have overdone the Dollywink products. Because prices are cheaper in Hong Kong and the fact that they carry a wider range of products, I couldnt stop myself.

Now I figured that I was going to buy me some Dollywink lashes too. What did I tell you about overdoing the Dollywink thing? But since I had already bought myself 4 new boxes of fake eyelashes the very day I landed in Hong Kong and applying fake eyelashes regardless of whether they were Dollywink or not was going to be the same, I skipped the Dollywink lashes only to regret not buying them when I got back to Singapore. Haha. On top of that, I did buy myself a whole bunch of new bags, shoes, coloured contacts and accessories, of which the last two were used in the previous face of the day post. I’m sold on those geek glasses!

I was excited to see Brush with Fashion already out in all The Body Shop Singapore stores. The bright colours and graphic packaging is quite different from The Body Shop’s usual range of products. I know I shouldn’t be buying any more make up, but I’d say keep your eyes peeled for the Limited Edition Brush With Fashion Mini Brush Kit (SGD$28.90).

If you haven’t already gotten a basic make up brush set, this mini kit contains four basic must have make up brushes. I’ve always lamented about the difficulty of carrying my full-sized brushes when I travel. Featuring a limited-edition designed pouch by fashion-illustration student Katarina Voloder from the London College of Fashion, the limited edition Brush with Fashion mini blusher brush, eyeshadow blender brush, slanted brush, lipstick/concealer brush is loving cradled in a trendy pouch and might just be my answer for all my travel getaways.

I’ve only sorted through half of them and looking through our photos, it was obvious Michelle and I looked terrible the first day we arrived in New York. I mean after flying for almost 24 hours without proper skincare, we were almost ready to be cast as zombies in the upcoming Resident Evil 4. Well okay, not THAT bad, but we didnt look like we were ready to be in front of the camera smiling.

If you are like everyone else, it’s hard to look like a supermodel after flying 15 hours. Not unless you flew first class, teleported from one place to another in an instant or just are one of them anomalies. But here are some ways you can look picture perfect the moment you get off the plane:

1) Water, water, water
We all know the benefits of drinking at least 2 litres of water a day. But when flying, it’s even more important to keep yourself well hydrated. Cabin air is dry and spending long hours in the aircraft naturally dries your skin out, so dont be afraid to ask your cabin crew for a bottle the moment you board. During meal times, skip the free alcohol, coffee and tea because these drinks dehydrate you.

2) Moisturise
Hand moisturiser, face moisturiser, lip moisturiser. If you name it, you better get it. You wont believe how dry our lips, hands, face got after flying. It felt like our lips and face would crack everytime we moved. Moisturiser helps to keep your skin soft and smooth so when you get off the plane you’re ready with your best face forward.

3) Skip the makeup
Your skin needs to breathe, so dont pile on the makeup while you’re flying long haul especially since the air in the cabin is already limited. If you must, sweep on some blusher, apply mascara or use tinted moisturiser to keep you looking that little bit made up on board.

4) Sunblock
Although you’re not wearing makeup, the one thing you should wear is sunblock. Sun rays get through the aircraft window and at that altitude, you’re that much closer to the sun. The sun’s rays, especially UVA, cause aging.

5) Dont fight the sleep monster
Ever lamented about the lack of sleep we get? Well, getting on board a plane is the best place to fall asleep and not worry about waking up. Except for when they serve your meals, that is. But there certainly isnt anything else you really can do except to eat and sleep. Yay! On a more serious note, sleep, of course, helps to renew cells and is the best natural concealer for dark rings there is.

Thinking about it, 5 tips just arent enough! There are so many things that you really need to prepare to ensure your flight is as comfortable as possible. So let me add on some additional stuff we wished we had done better or did to make ourselves more comfortable on the plane.

6) Keep wet wipes in your hand carry. You’ll need them for everything.

7) Get a neck pillow for a comfortable slumber.

8 ) Pack a sweet or two in your hand carry.

9) Wear comfortable sneakers with socks on board.

10) Carry a leave-in hair treatment or hair serum to get rid of frizziness and static.

I hope I didnt miss out anything. Just in case any of you are frequent flyers or are planning for your next holiday, I really hope this list helps you. I’m definitely keepimg this list close to me the next time I fly.

What do you do on board your flights to make flying that much easier?

The day after we did our tree-planting activity and was welcomed by the Govenor, we set out early in the morning to Kapurpurawan White Rock Formation for a trek. Kapurpuraoan rock means “white rock” and it clearly demonstrated the power of wind, water and rain on rock and coral. The massive rock juts out into the sea and from afar looks as if someone has wiped off the top frosting and exposed the cake that lies beneath. Up close it was a dazzling white rock that sparkled in the sun. But, dont take my words for it. See for yourself.

We’re almost there. We had to trek for a bit. But finally we see the white rock in the distance.

Can there be a more amazing view?

WE’RE FINALLY THERE!

After trekking through rocky roads, by-passing some ponds or whatchamacallit, we finally make it to the white rock. And it REALLY is white even in the distance.

We climb on top the actual white rock and of course, the trigger-happiness starts all over again.

Close up view of the rock formation.

Moving out closer to the edge, we ran the risk of falling into the ocean if we werent careful! Also, the breeze was so strong, our hats were almost stolen by the wind. Everything was flying! See everyone desperately clinging onto their hats. Lol.

Cam-whoring pictures with the awesome background.

Ok. This obviously isnt me. It’s Miss Switzerland who eventually took the title of Miss Congeniality.

Group picture!
Pose girls pose! Wave! Wave!

By noon, we were on the way to Bangui Wind Farm. Because the Bangui area is so windy, plans to construct various tourist attractions were shelved. But, instead of letting the natural energy go to waste, why not make use to Mother Nature’s gift and build wind mills to harness her energy? This is the FIRST power plant in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. There are 20 units of wind turbines rated at 1.68MW each and they are a magnificent sight to behold.

Each structure is beautiful on its own.

But combined with the rest of the awe-inspiring structures and set against the blue backdrop, it is a picturesque scene.

Again, who would pass up the opportunity to take pictures?

Pardon the mad hair. Mother Nature decided to be my hair stylist for the day.

But that wasnt the last of our stops for the day. We then had to travel to Pagudpud, Blue Lagoon, Maira-ra Beach touted to have white sands and waters so blue. We had lunch at Hannah’s Beach Resort and then did a beach cleaning on the Blue Lagoon Beach.

We had a warm welcome reception when we arrived at Hannah’s. Beautiful bouquets and welcome ribbons for us.

Important message for everyone from Hannah’s.

Lunch was in a function room. They had set out tables for us very much like a press conference and we sat facing the audience. Imagine people watching you as you ate. Haha. Very common regardless of where we went in the Philippines.

Lunch is served.

Lunch was followed by a tour of the premises. Hannah’s overlooks the beautiful Blue Lagoon Beach.

And we got to see their cosy rooms too.

But our crucial mission there was to do beach cleaning. Armed with gloves and trash bags, we made our way down to the Blue Lagoon Beach to pick up whatever rubbish that was there.

And we take some time in between to make our fans happy by taking pictures with them. Haha.

Ilocos Norte was amazing and truly unforgettable. We visited so many astounding and breath-taking places that it makes me sad to read that the Copenhagen Summit was sort of a failure.

According to Newsweek, studies made at the environmental summit show that commitments by the various countries will fall short of of its goal to cut carbon emissions sharply enough to hold off a 2-degree-Celsius rise in global temperatures. The United Nations Environment Program found that the world had locked in less than half of the greenhouse gas reductions needed to provide a 50-50 chance of preventing the temperature increase by 2050.

2050 may seem like a long time away, but it is only 40 years into the future considering we’re already in 2010. 40 years later and many of us will be in our golden years. Years that we might want to enjoy with our families or possibly spend retirement in some exotic country where the beaches are blue and the sky in bluer. But, irresponsibility on our part not only causes the temperature rise in our environment, it in fact, costs us OUR home and OUR future. OUR chance at enjoying what Mother Nature has to offer.

The fact of the matter is this: despite already saying we’re TRYING, we’re barely making enough reductions to reach a 50-50 chance of preventing the temperature rise. Maybe we’re just not trying hard enough, or in Mother Nature’s books, we’re not even trying at all.

But the picture is not bleak. There is still time to stall the global temperature rise and we need to do it NOW. The experts will tell you if the world delays action by even a few years, emission cuts will have to be considerably LARGER so global temperatures stay within the 2-degree range to prevent melting ice. Why make things difficult if you can take small steps now?